Stalk-chopper



(No Modem J. L. TOWNSEND.

STALK GHOPPER..

Jwmesl .Towns end.

.l NITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. TOVNSEND, OF FULMGRE, NORTH CAROLNA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 489,047, dated anuary3, 1893.

Application iiled May 3l, 1892. Serial No. 435,032. (No model.)

T all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES L. TOWNSEND, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fulniore, in the county of Robeson and State of NorthCarolina, have invented a new and useful Stalk-Chopper, of which thefollowing is a speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements in stalk-choppers, the objectsbeing to produce a cheap and simple machine designed to effectually chopinto small lengths standing stalks; that is so constructed as to preventchoking of the knives; to permit of simultaneous raising and lowering ofthe chopping and stalkguiding mechanism; and finally to provide animproved chopping-wheel so constructed as to be strong and durable, andlo permit of a ready removal and re-insertion of a new knife-securingbracket in case a break should occur.

Vith these objects in view the invention consists in certain features ofconstruction hereinafter specified and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

Referring to the drawings:-Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectionalview of a stalk chopper machine constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 3 is a perspective View ofa portion of the chopping disk or wheel. Fig. 4 is a detail perspectiveof one of the brackets.

Like numerals indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In practicing myinvention, Iemploy a rectangular framework, the sameconsisting in this instance of the opposite pairs of parallellongitudinal side-bars 1 connected at their rear ends by a cross-bar 2and at their front ends by a cross-bar 3, the latter surmounting theupper edges of the side-bars and having secured at its center adraft-tongue 4. Short axles 5 connect the side-bars of each pair andbetween each of said pairs of side bars groundwheels 6 are mounted onthe axles. A transverse shaft 7 passes through the front ends of theopposite pairs of side-bars 1 immediately below the front cross-bar 3andloosely mounted upon this shaft between the pairs of sidebars 1 is apair of opposite side-suspension bars S which extend rearwardly topoints opposite the ground wheels. Atransverse shaft 9 has its endsjournaled in the rear extremities of the suspension-bars and upon thecenter of the same there is secured a cast-metal chopping disk l0. Thisdisk 10 is provided at opposite sides with projecting hubs 11, and withblades 12 cast integral with the disk, the peripheries of the blad esbeing provided with V-shaped notches 13. The disk is provided with asurrounding separate orintegral rim or tire 14, and the edges of thesaine extend beyond'the opposite faces of the disk, and radiallyopposite the notches of the blades l2, said ange is provided with pairsof opposite seats or recesses 15.

16 designates a bracket-arm, and the same is provided at its outerextremity with an upwardly-disposed abutment 17, and at its inner sidehas cast integrally therewith a triangular securing plate 1S. The upperedge of the plate 18 is curved upon the same radius as the periphery ofthe disk. The lower edge of said plate is beveled at opposite sides toform V-shaped tenons 19. The bracket 16 projects at its rear or innerend slightly beyond its plate 18, forming a lug 20, adapted to fit inthe seat or recess 15. In constructing the chopping-disk these bracketsare arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the disk,the lugs 2O takingin the recesses of the flange of the disk, and the inner ends or tenons19 of the plates 18 takinginto the V-shaped notches of the circularplates. In this position bolts 21 are passed transversely through eachof the pairs of opposite plates 1S and through the disk at each side ofeach of the bracket-arms. This brings the abutinents transverselyopposite each other, and each pair has securely bolted to it atransverse blade 22, the bolts 28 passing through the blades neai' eachend and th rough the abutments. By this construction it will b e obviousthat the disk as a whole is greatly strengthened and the knives iirmlysupported in position and capable of withstanding the severe strain towhich they are subjected, and if by chance, a knife or bracket shouldbreak it may be readily removed and a new one substituted at very slightcost and with but little delay. A cross-bar 2i connects the twosuspension-bars 8 near their front ends or rather immediately in rear ofthe shaft 7, and from said bar there extends upward and rearward acurved guard or shield which projects over the chopping disk. A

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curved standard 26 also projects upward and rearward from the cross-bar24 and supports at its rear front end a seat 27 for the accommodation otthe driver.

At each side of the center of the cross-bar 24 and at the under sidethereof there is located a downwardly-disposed inclined guidearm 28,which when the chopper is in operative position is suspended a veryshort distance from the ground. These two arms 28 being diverged towardtheir lower ends serve to gather in the stalks of the row and presentthem to the chopping-knives- Furthermore, by locating the arms upon thecross-bar 24 they rise or are drawn up out of operative position at thesame time as and with the chopping-mechanism such movement being securedby an ordinary elevating-mechanism such as is common in this class ofmachines and which Will be hereinafter described. Short bearingstandards 29 rise from the opposite inner side-bars l, and a rock-shaft30 is journaled therein. This rock-shaft is provided with a lever 3lwithin reach of the out of contact with the ground and the guidearms 28out ot' guiding position.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be seen that I have provided a machine of greatsimplicity, which is very eiective in operation, which is strong anddurable; whose knives are conveniently supported in position and adaptedto resist the severe strain to which they are subjected; and which maybe readily replaced in case of breakage.

I-Iaving described my invention what I claim is:-

l. In a stalk-chopper, a centrally located rotatable chopping diskprovided atits opposite faces with pairs of opposite and outwardlyextending brackets removably secured to the disk, and a series ofchoppers extending across the periphery of the chopper and secured tothe pairs of brackets, substantially as speci tied.

2. In a stalk-chopper, the disk provided at opposite sides with circularhub-plates having V-shaped notches, a peripheral {iange whose edgesextend beyond the faces of the disk and are notched in radial alignmentwith the notches of the plates, combined with the pairs of oppositebrackets terminating at their inner ends in plates provided at theirouter ends with abutments, said brackets extending at their upper innerends beyond the plates and fitting the recesses of the peripheralflange, said plates being provided with V- shaped tenons fitting thenotches of the hubplates, bolts connecting the plates of each oppositepair of brackets, and chopping knives bolted .to the abutments,substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own Ihave hereto aiimixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses. l

' JAMES L. TOWNSEND.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. MORRISON, R. O. PITMAN.

